180 gallon reinforced floor needed?

[MarineGirl411]

I will be setting up my 180 gallon tank sometime in the next couple of weeks. I wanted to know if I will need to reinforce the floor in anyway? It will be going on a load bearing wall and I do not know where the floor joists run. I do not have a basement. Please let me know. Thank you. Oh it's a glass aquarium.

 

[albano]

I'm not an engineer, but you may want one to check out your plan...you'll be 'next to' OR 'over' a load bearing wall...depending on direction beams run your tank may only be sitting directly over 1 or 2 beams...you're talking over 3000 lbs in that area.

 

[MarineGirl411]

It is going on an outside wall of the house. I have a feeling I didn't say it correctly. Not outside of course. You know what I mean. I do not have a crawl space under this area so I cannot check to see what way the floor joists are sitting. I am wondering if using concrete under it would work. Of course I'd have to cut the floor out. =(

 

[albano]

well 'normally' the beams will run from the front to the back of the house, those walls are usually not as far apart as the 2 side walls. also, if you have a peaked roof, you can get an idea of the direction of the beams. (probably, anyone in your area, with ANY knowledge of construction, can tell you). Is this your house?, how old is it, how SOLID is the build...cutting the floor to pour concrete is a big deal!, the alternative is taking up alot of flooring to double-up beams...check with an expert, PLEASE. a sagging floor can stress AND crack a glass tank!

 

[MarineGirl411]

Oye! My boyfriend is a carpenter. He was going to build some sort of platform. I can tell you parts of the house were built in the 30's. There was an add on that I believe was done in the 50's. Yes, this is our house. That is what I am afraid of. Cracking the tank. We may have to bite the bullet and just cut through the floor to find out. I do not want to crack the tank. That would be a huge mess. I am not exactly sure how he was going to build the platform, but he said it would be able to handle so many pounds per sq. inch or foot. I do not see how that could work, but I am not a carpenter. I haven't seen drawings of what he means. =(

 

[albano]

well good luck with the build, if your boyfriend is not sure of what he's doing, hopefully, he will ask someone in the trade, for advise. Like I said its alot of weight...you have to add tank, stand, canopy, lights, sump and equipment, sand, rocks, water AND don't forget the weight of you, him and a friend or 2 standing there, admiring your handiwork! (that could be another 300-1000lbs, no offense)

 

[discus510]

no crawl space mean u should have a slab fondation which should be fine. cuz its all concrete

 

[MarineGirl411]

Well, him and I don't weigh that much. He said he could build some type of platform and reduce the weight of the tank to 100 pounds per square foot. I am not sure how he'd do this, but could it work? Or is it asking for trouble?

 

[albano]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15743119#post15743119 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by discus510
no crawl space mean u should have a slab fondation which should be fine. cuz its all concrete

worth checking out...if concrete pad, it's your lucky day! as to ppl weight I was just guess-timating 150-200 lbs a person, not trying to insult you!

 

[OCRick]

MarineGirl...I would never put that size of aquarium on a floor that I didn't know what the underlying structure consisted of, plus I would never put it on a floor that wasn't reinforced for those loads. FYI, most typical residential floors are only designed for a safe live load of only 40 PSF.

 

[MarineGirl411]

Don't worry. You didn't insult me. Just wanted everyone to know I don't weight around 200 pounds! lol ;-) I am 118 FYI.

 

[mypepper]

Since I rent and I was going to install a 125 gallon glass tank, I thought it was best to place extra supports underneath the flooring.

I was lucky enough to have crawl space and I installed a steel beam across the bottom of the flooring.

The area my tank sits is solid as a rock and I have peace of mind.

Since then, the front of my 125 gallon glass tank developed a crack and now I have a 90 gallon acrylic tank for the meantime.

Randy

 

[OkR33Fer]

My 150 +30 sump was on an elevated floor of our house, built in '53. 2 x 10 floor joist held everything just fine. 6ft tank and it sat over four joists.

The 300 is in the same room but we added four piers for safety.

 

[MarineGirl411]

Unfortunately, I think we are going to have to rent a backhoe. We had to dig under the house anyway to add vents to the crawl space that's under the other parts of the house. I'd be devastated if that tank broke. What would be the best way to support that floor once we dig under it? 2X4's? Cement?

 

[lllosingit]

There are places that sell/rent fiber optic cameras, You would only have to drill a small pencil sized hole in the to get a look at whats on the other side. You could drill thru the floor or from outside thru the foundation.
Check the tool rental places or most major plumbing companies will have them but you may have to pay them to do the work.

 

[robdawg]

Any updates? I'm tagging along as I'm putting a 150g (4'x2'x30") in our living room. Got a sizable crawl space underneath. Tank is going on exterior wall. Was thinking digging down 2 ft. and going 1 ft. up with cement forms. Then going with 4"x 4" posts under joists. Also, was going to beef up the joists and add blocks between joists. Don't know if this is overkill though.

 

[Lightsluvr]

Fingers and toes...

Fingers and toes...

I've run out of fingers and toes, but still trying to figure out how a 180G tank will weigh 3000 pounds... my best guess would be less than 2000 on a good day...

Regardless, the advice about verifying the amount and type of support under your tank stand is very appropriate...

LL

 

[albano]

I've run out of fingers and toes, but still trying to figure out how a 180G tank will weigh 3000 pounds... my best guess would be less than 2000 on a good day...

'best guess' estimates...120 g water (a 180 only holds about 150g, less rock displacement) =1100lbs, glass tank= 300#+,wood stand= 150#, live rock=300#, sand=150#, canopy w/ lights= 100#, sump gallons? 30-50g would add 300+#, and then there is the human factor (everyone seems to forget)...you and your wife and a friend standing there, enjoying the reef...add about 5-700 lbs,(I know that weight is not there ALL the time, but you're heard of the 'straw, that broke the camels back')....seems like an easy 3000 lbs to me, all in about 24 sq. ft. ...I think it is much safer to figure the high end weight for a safety factor!

 

[MarineGirl411]

:sad1: No updates yet. We are going to dig the crawl space out and support the floor as needed. I will document with pictures when we do this!

 

[Jeff]

If that house was built in the '30's it will probably be ok if you set up the tank against an outside wall and across a few joists. I did it with my setup and dont have any problems.
Look at my sig below.